Spirit chase Lamour in return to The Dow; Trounce Sting 7-3

Saginaw, MI – Saginaw dominated a physical game between West Division rivals with a 7-3 win against Sarnia on Teddy Bear Toss Night at The Dow Event Center. The Spirit extended their win streak to four-games with the victory. The Jayden Lamb Foundation collected 966 teddy bears and will donate them to families and children affected by Pediatric Cancer.

Former Saginaw Spirit goaltender Cameron Lamour made his first start for the Sarnia Sting after being traded back on December 12 for a fourth and conditional fifth round pick. The 18-year old goaltender played in 10 games this season for the Spirit posting a 2-4-0-1 record with a goals against average of 4.34.

Just over eight minutes into the game the teddy bears rained down at The Dow after Albert Michnac notched his ninth goal of the season. While on a two-on-one rush, Michnac skated down the left side of the Sarnia zone and made a subtle move toward the center of the ice. The overager took a wrist shot from the left face-off dot that beat Lamour top-shelf over the blocker. With the goal, the Prague, Czech Republic native extended his point streak to five games.

Saginaw extended the lead less than a minute later, after a great forecheck by Spirit center Aidan Prueter poked the puck into the corner to Jake Goldowski. Goldowski found Danny Katic in the slot who made a move to the forehand and slid the puck into the net.

2019 NHL Draft prospect Nicholas Porco added the third Spirit goal just over a minute later. Plymouth, Michigan native Bode Wilde took a slapshot from the point that Porco redirected past the Sarnia goaltender for his 14th goal of the season.

A great defensive play by Dexter, Michigan native D.J. Busdeker on the backcheck during a two-on-one rush by Sarnia. The Saginaw alternate captain poked the pass away from the waiting Sting player and negated the scoring chance. The Spirit took a three-goal lead into the first intermission.

Sarnia cut into the Saginaw lead on the power play 4:35 into the second period. With the newly acquired Saginaw Spirit Justin Murray in the penalty box, Sarnia’s Jamieson Rees took the puck out of the right corner to the front of the Spirit net. The Sting center made a nice move in tight to the backhand and beat the extended pad of Arizona Coyotes prospect Ivan Prosvetov.

The Spirit regained the three-goal lead midway through the second period on the power play. With the power play set up in the Sarnia end, Jackson, Michigan native Blade Jenkins sent a pass from the center of the point to the left half wall where New York Islanders prospect Bode Wilde sent a bullet one-time slapshot past a sliding Lamour. With the power play goal, Saginaw has at least one goal the man-power advantage in four of the last five games. Jenkins, a New York Islanders prospect, extended his point streak to six games but saw his five-game goal steak end in the game.

Aidan Prueter gave Saginaw a four-goal lead less than three minutes later. After Jake Goldowski sent a pass to Prueter in the right corner, the Spirit center took the puck to the front of the net and tucked the puck through the goaltenders five-hole.

Saginaw first round pick Cole Perfetti added his 15th goal of the season to bring him into a tie for the team lead in goals. The stand out rookie came down the right side and used a Sting defender as a screen by taking a wrist shot through the defender’s legs and over the goaltender’s glove. With the goal Perfetti is currently second in goals among OHL rookies.

After several physical play after the whistle, the Spirit added their second power play goal with just over a minute left in the second period. Albert Michnac scored his second of the game after an attempted pass to the slot redirected off a Sarnia skate and into the net. Saginaw went into the second intermission with a 7-1 lead and out shot Sarnia, 28-14 through two periods.

Sarnia added their second goal of the game just over half-way through the final frame. After a Spirit defender stumbled, the Sting came into the Saginaw zone on a three-on-none rush. Jamieson Rees sent a pass from the left face-off circle to OHL rookie points leader Jacob Perreault at the right side of the net. Perreault took the puck around the Spirit goal and wrapped the puck around into the open net.

Sarnia added a second power play goal of the game with just under five minutes remaining in the period. The Sting’s Franco Sproviero deposited the puck into the Spirit net after a back door pass sent from Nick Grima.

Saginaw out shot Sarnia, 41-21 in the victory and went 2-for-3 on the power play.

Applebee’s Three Stars of the Game:

1. Bode Wilde (SAG) G, 3A

2. Albert Michnac (SAG) 2G

3. Aidan Prueter (SAG) G, A

The Saginaw Spirit will look to continue their win streak when they visit the West Division rival Windsor Spitfires Sunday, December 16, for the second meeting between the two in three days. The Spirit put an end to a six-game winless streak dating back to last season in their last meeting against the Spitfires. The game is set for 2:05 p.m. with pregame coverage beginning 15 minutes before puck drop.

Fans can follow the action on FM Talk and Sports 100.5 and fmtalk1005.com with Joey Battaino and Dennis Desrosiers on the call.

Saginaw returns home Saturday, December 29, to take on the Erie Otters for the third of four meetings of the season between the Western Conference foes. Former Detroit Red Wings Chris Osgood and Mickey Redmond will join us to sign autographs in the Red Room pregame. The Hockey Hall of Fame Trophy Presentation will also be on hand for photos before the game.

To purchase tickets to any Saginaw Spirit home game call (989) 497-7747, visit saginawspirit.com, or by visiting the Saginaw Spirit Store at 5789 State Street, Saginaw, MI.

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